Client Preparations

For those coming to Namibia for the first time, we have prepared some advise on aspects of your trip that we hope you may find useful.
Namibia is probably one of the safest fishing destinations in Africa, and although one should never be complacent about personal security and the security of your belongings, it is not a major issue in Namibia, if you do not leave the opportunity for petty crime.

That said, during your stay on the coast will be a very enjoyable adventure, should you follow some of the following advice:

The coast of Namibia is in the tropics, and although we enjoy 300 days of full sunshine, it is also the coolest place in the tropics – thanks to the cold water current from the Antarctic Ocean. Mornings will possibly be misty and cool before the sun burns off the moisture, followed by truly tropical strength sun. Late afternoons will see the arrival of a cool breeze off the sea, and evenings will be cooler once the sun goes down. This brief description of our climate on the coast is the most influential in your preparations.

Clothing needs to be light and airy, with long pants and long sleeved shirts to protect you from the sun. Footwear need only be sandals on the beach, but presentable casual ware for evenings at your hotel or perhaps restaurant or bar. A fleece for early mornings on the beach, and lightweight jacket for evenings is all that is necessary.

For protection from the sun, a good quality, high factor sunscreen, and an after sun treatment is advisable, combined with a soft wide brimmed hat – baseball style caps do not offer sufficient protection from the sun. A good pair of polarized sun glasses completes your personal protection from the elements.

Prior to your trip you will need to ensure that your passport is valid for 6 months after the completion of your stay – this is a requirement for your entry visa to Namibia. Your visa form will be issued to you on the plane as it starts to land, and all you have to do is present this with your passport at the immigration desk, for your 30 day tourist visa.

Prior to your trip it is advisable to make sure that you have an up to date Tetanus vaccination, and any personal medications, as well as a copy of your prescription, in case you mislay your medicines. Unless you are traveling to other parts of Namibia on safari further medications or inoculations are not necessary – the coast is not a malaria zone – too little water in the desert to support mosquitoes. Your biggest health issue is going to be sun protection.

For currency you can either bring Namibian Dollars, or South African Rand, however all European currencies can be readily changed at all the banks in Walvis Bay, Swakopmund or Henties Bay, you just need to present your passport.

All the fishing tackle you will need for any fishing type will be provided as part of your tour, however should you wish to bring a personal rod for non-shark species it is recommended that you consider a rod with a 5-7oz casting rating, and a multiplier filled with at least 300m of 30lb(15kg) main line, our beach fishing is quite heavy on tackle, and the species can grow considerably larger than you might expect in Europe.

End tackle would best be a selection of Viking style hooks in the 1/0 to 5/0 range, a selection of plain swivels, and a spool of 37kg (80lb) leader line. All other requirements will either be available for use, or can be purchased locally upon your arrival, especially leads, to save you the weight allowance on your flight.

We do not recommend that you bring personal tackle for sharks, as we use very strong rods deliberately to minimise the fight time on the fish, hence minimising the stress on the sharks, to allow us to ensure the release of a healthy shark after tagging.